Wow, this story is getting deeper. I do not have the inside track on this thing and if any readers have anything pertinent to add, post it in the comments section. Or you can email me in private through the contact form.-Matt
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Five U.S. contractors held in slaying of another in Iraq
June 6, 2009
* Story Highlights
* NEW: Weapons confiscated in raid of suspects’ firm, official says
* Five arrested in death of fellow contractor James Kitterman
* Kitterman found bound, blindfolded and fatally stabbed
* Victim owned a construction company that operated in Iraq
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — Five American security contractors were detained in connection with the killing of another American contractor last month inside Baghdad’s Green Zone, sources with knowledge of the investigation told CNN Saturday.
Iraqi and U.S. personnel took the five into custody in an operation inside the Green Zone before dawn on Friday, according to an Iraqi official involved in the investigation into the killing of James Kitterman. The five, who have not yet been charged, were being held by Iraqi security forces Saturday at a jail inside the heavily protected zone, he said.
The troops also confiscated weapons during the raid on the suspects’ firm at about 4 a.m. (11 a.m. ET), said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The names of the suspects and the company they work for were not released. The U.S. military declined comment and referred questions to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. Embassy officials did not immediately respond to request for comments.
Kitterman was found bound, blindfolded and fatally stabbed in a car in the district, formally known as the International Zone, on May 22. The 60-year-old Houston, Texas, resident owned a construction company that operated in Iraq.
The five suspects knew the victim, a source inside the Green Zone familiar with the investigation said. Both the Iraqi and the Green Zone sources noted that the FBI has been involved in the investigation from the start.
Once the suspect are charged and referred to trial, the case would be sent to Iraq’s Central Criminal Court, the Iraqi official said.
CNN’s Mohammed Tawfeeq and Alan Duke contributed to this report.
Story here.
Esentially it's all a bunch of you know what. The 5 arrested contractors whereabouts have been verified- they were putting out Larry Young who was actively ON FIRE after a mortar struck his hooch that night. Iraqis have to make a show that they are on top of things and simply figured it'd be easier to arrest every American on the compound where Jim lived= typical haji move.
Comment by Coyote — Saturday, June 6, 2009 @ 11:39 PM
I just wonder if these guys are being thrown under the bus by the Obama administration? Not enough info here for anyone to judge yet.
Comment by stnkfngr — Sunday, June 7, 2009 @ 4:18 AM
Coyote,
Thanks for the comment. The latest reports on this was that the guys were all CTU folks, to include the owner Don Feeney. Which is kind of odd, especially when it is reported that Don Feeney was good friends with James Kitterman, supposedly.
What bothers me about the MSM coverage on this is that they are already demonizing these guys with how they report it, and they haven't a clue about the real deal. Pathetic. Are you with CTU Coyote? Take care. -Matt
http://www.ctuconsulting.com/index.php
Comment by headjundi — Sunday, June 7, 2009 @ 4:30 AM
Stnkfngr,
Interesting point, and I am sure there will be some of that going on here. It is so hard to say what the real deal is until the investigation comes out. But yeah, politics and war go hand in hand. -Matt
"War is nothing but the continuation of politics by other means." -Carl von Clausewitz
Comment by headjundi — Sunday, June 7, 2009 @ 7:13 AM